Guest Column: Why us? Why now? Why vote? ... Why yes

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Garry L. Jones

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By Garry L. Jones

Published: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 09:34 PM.

When I turned 18 many years ago, I was excited because I was considered an adult, and I could vote! This was only 17 years before the passage of the Voting Rights of 1965. Many people lost their lives and got beat “upside” the head and water-hosed down in order for you and me to have the right to vote. It was a travesty, but our ancestors got through it.

Now we have the right to vote, but some of us think our votes don’t count. I feel as though they are trying hard to ensure that minorities won’t vote by making it a hardship — until some people just give up and say my vote is not going to count.

Why is it in the state of Texas you need a photo ID to vote when in 2008 you didn’t need a photo ID? You only needed items such as a utility bill, government check, bank statement or other government documents with your name and address. Texaschanged its voting laws and required voters to produce a photo ID, but in August, a federal court in Washington, D.C., blocked a Texas law that would require voters to present photo IDs to election officials before being allowed to cast ballots in November, saying it would place an unfair burden on minorities and the poor.

As we know, the presidential election results in 2000 will probably go down as the most contested results in American history, especially as the final outcome was so close and had to ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. At the time, I was residing in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, on pins and needles when the showdown between George Bush and Al Gore took place.

I’m a firm believer that voting gives you power. There is an old saying that parents used to say that stuck with me: “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of this world.” I feel the same way about politicians: “I voted you in office and I can vote you out of office,” if you change and go against what you said you were going to do.

I remember when I met with a civil rights congressman in Atlanta, who fought for us to get the right to vote. I met with the congressman in reference to a bill that I championed. When I departed his office, I felt empowered because politicians listen to registered voters who exercise their right to vote. Let me give you a few additional reasons why your vote counts:

When I turned 18 many years ago, I was excited because I was considered an adult, and I could vote! This was only 17 years before the passage of the Voting Rights of 1965. Many people lost their lives and got beat “upside” the head and water-hosed down in order for you and me to have the right to vote. It was a travesty, but our ancestors got through it.

Now we have the right to vote, but some of us think our votes don’t count. I feel as though they are trying hard to ensure that minorities won’t vote by making it a hardship — until some people just give up and say my vote is not going to count.

Why is it in the state of Texas you need a photo ID to vote when in 2008 you didn’t need a photo ID? You only needed items such as a utility bill, government check, bank statement or other government documents with your name and address. Texaschanged its voting laws and required voters to produce a photo ID, but in August, a federal court in Washington, D.C., blocked a Texas law that would require voters to present photo IDs to election officials before being allowed to cast ballots in November, saying it would place an unfair burden on minorities and the poor.

As we know, the presidential election results in 2000 will probably go down as the most contested results in American history, especially as the final outcome was so close and had to ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. At the time, I was residing in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, on pins and needles when the showdown between George Bush and Al Gore took place.

I’m a firm believer that voting gives you power. There is an old saying that parents used to say that stuck with me: “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of this world.” I feel the same way about politicians: “I voted you in office and I can vote you out of office,” if you change and go against what you said you were going to do.

I remember when I met with a civil rights congressman in Atlanta, who fought for us to get the right to vote. I met with the congressman in reference to a bill that I championed. When I departed his office, I felt empowered because politicians listen to registered voters who exercise their right to vote. Let me give you a few additional reasons why your vote counts:

nVoting is a way to speak your mind and let your voice be heard!

Your vote is your voice. When we vote, we are actually telling elected officials and lawmakers how we feel about education, public safety, social security, health care, and other important issues.

nOne voice, one vote really does count!

Remember: There is power in numbers, and when we vote and get our family members to vote, we can truly make a difference. If you don’t vote for what you believe in, others will — and you may not like the outcome.

nOur children are depending on us to represent their voices too!

Because our children can’t vote, we have to do it for them. That’s how we make our concerns about schools, safety, housing and other issues heard. When we vote, we are looking out for our kids and their futures.

nVoting changes communities!

Do you ever wonder why one neighborhood gets passed over for things it needs, while another seems to get it all? One big reason is voting. When we vote, we can get results that we can actually see.

nVote to affect change!

It was through elections that we voted in officials who were champions for civil rights. Voting is our chance to make a difference in our own lives and within the world.

nBelieve it or not, voting is a way of honoring our history!

As long as our country has existed, there have been people who didn’t want us to vote. There were several freedom fighters that stood up for the right to vote. Those times may seem ancient, but there are still people today who don’t want us to vote. It’s now our turn to stand up and vote to preserve the honor of those who went before us.

And here’s a note for college students: the Supreme Court has ruled that college students who go to school out-of-state enjoy certain protections allowing them to register to vote in either their “home state” or “school state.” Countmore.org empowers students to register to vote where it matters most in the 2012 presidential election — the swings states of Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada and yes, North Carolina.

If a person is going to school in North Carolina (which is a swing state) but their home is in New Jersey (which is not a swing state), it is best for the student to vote in the swing state of North Carolina.

No matter your party preference, cast your ballot where your vote is needed the most.

Garry L. Jones is a Kinstonnative and Department of Justice retiree. He is a KinstonHigh Schooland N.C. Central graduate who founded Advocate 4 Justice in 2004. He can be reached at garry@advocate4justice.org and his organization can be found at advocate4justice.org. The opinions of the guest columnist are not necessarily those of The Free Press.

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